Raleigh Carlton Competition (Colorway: Copper)
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Raleigh Carlton Competition (Colourway: Copper)
Hi everyone,
first of all: i'm totally new to this hobby!
Last week I'd bought a Raleigh Carlton Competition in the colourway copper. The seller told me that its completely original apart from the tires.
Through my research, I read a few post about the Competition GS here in this forum.
I also visit the site from Sheldon Brown to find out more about my new Raleigh, but I couldn't find anything.
The letters on my Raleigh are such the same as the letters on the GS version. The handle bar and the saddle (Brooks Professional) are the same too. The only differents (for me as nooby) between the GS-Version and my Bicycle are the missing chrome-part in the back, the missing GS and the fork which has the "heart-like" part at the top.
For me it's a mixture between the Competition GS and the International
I hope you have a little more information about my Raleigh...?
Thanks so far guys
Best Regards from Hamburg, Germany
first of all: i'm totally new to this hobby!
Last week I'd bought a Raleigh Carlton Competition in the colourway copper. The seller told me that its completely original apart from the tires.
Through my research, I read a few post about the Competition GS here in this forum.
I also visit the site from Sheldon Brown to find out more about my new Raleigh, but I couldn't find anything.
The letters on my Raleigh are such the same as the letters on the GS version. The handle bar and the saddle (Brooks Professional) are the same too. The only differents (for me as nooby) between the GS-Version and my Bicycle are the missing chrome-part in the back, the missing GS and the fork which has the "heart-like" part at the top.
For me it's a mixture between the Competition GS and the International
I hope you have a little more information about my Raleigh...?
Thanks so far guys
Best Regards from Hamburg, Germany
Last edited by RaleighRonson; 10-21-15 at 12:40 AM.
#2
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Absolutely beautiful Comp', it should clean up nicely and make for a fine bicycle, enjoy the miles and the smiles. Always liked that copper colourway on Raleighs. There is a pretty nice group of Comp' enthusiasts here in the C&V, you will have lots of people to draw from for advice. Welcome aboard.
Bill
Bill
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
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I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
#3
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Beautiful bike ! The rear wheel is centered in the dropouts which are attached to the stays. One leads up to the seat and called the seat stays. The other goes to the bottom bracket(BB) and is called the chain stay. That was what you trying to describe being non chromed in back.
I remember fondly my time in Germany. I was there in 87-88 around the Kaiserslautern area. Wonderful times riding my bike all over your country. You have a great machine there and with proper fit and maintanence will provide many years of good travel.
I remember fondly my time in Germany. I was there in 87-88 around the Kaiserslautern area. Wonderful times riding my bike all over your country. You have a great machine there and with proper fit and maintanence will provide many years of good travel.
#4
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Pretty! Clean it up good and give it a coat of wax. Then it will really sparkle.
If you get a chance, please post a picture of the drive side of the bike - people like to see all the drivetrain components.
I'm surprised if those are the original brake levers. I suppose they'll work, but something without the "turkey levers" will work better and look more the part. If you wind up changing them, you can route the cables behind the bars. That's the standard routing. In addition to looking proper, the cables are less prone to flopping around.
If you get a chance, please post a picture of the drive side of the bike - people like to see all the drivetrain components.
I'm surprised if those are the original brake levers. I suppose they'll work, but something without the "turkey levers" will work better and look more the part. If you wind up changing them, you can route the cables behind the bars. That's the standard routing. In addition to looking proper, the cables are less prone to flopping around.
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The only source of catalogs online I know of are for the US market-perhaps others will find one for the European/English market?
At any rate, that spiffy copper color was for the International in 1975, perhaps some later as well. Internationals had chrome front and rear. I think you've nailed it with the combo Comp/International moniker! Raleigh was known for mixing and matching lugs, the frame geometry within the same model/year can differ, who knows what else. It's safe to say your frame is somewhat unique!
Also don't think you have to keep any of the components just the way they are. I see already SunTour power shifters that are not original. The brake levers are almost certainly not as well.
Here's a picture of my Competition. The only thing original is the frame and fork. Even that part of the bike has been highly modified:
You can ride it as is, go full blown modified, or anything in between. These old Raleighs are very malleable to your needs, and they ride quite well.
At any rate, that spiffy copper color was for the International in 1975, perhaps some later as well. Internationals had chrome front and rear. I think you've nailed it with the combo Comp/International moniker! Raleigh was known for mixing and matching lugs, the frame geometry within the same model/year can differ, who knows what else. It's safe to say your frame is somewhat unique!
Also don't think you have to keep any of the components just the way they are. I see already SunTour power shifters that are not original. The brake levers are almost certainly not as well.
Here's a picture of my Competition. The only thing original is the frame and fork. Even that part of the bike has been highly modified:
You can ride it as is, go full blown modified, or anything in between. These old Raleighs are very malleable to your needs, and they ride quite well.
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Need more photos. I have a faint suspicion this bike was for the German market and is different from what we saw in North America. I've never seen a Suntour-equipped Competition; nor one with that fork crown.
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I'll be willing to bet that the entire drivetrain isn't stock. Even new, Raleigh buyers were known to make modifications at the LBS.
Check out what this young lad did. He was clearly disturbed and headed for a future of not leaving well enough alone:
If his dad had taught him how to light a torch, who knows what damage he would have done?
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
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Last edited by gugie; 10-20-15 at 02:43 PM. Reason: english spelling
#8
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What happens at the LBS, stays at the LBS! Like my 1978 Raleigh Pro. It was purchased by the original owner from some LBS in 1984 as a bare frame and built up with Campy SR. No doubt the original NR had been stripped off for some fancy Italian frame as apparently this was the fasted and cheapest way to secure an NR group.
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The components, if original, may present an interesting problem. But I'm more concerned with the frame. I just don't see a Competition. What I see has a Super Course look to it. But I will wait for more photos.
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Super Course with 531 fork blades? Or are you suspicious of a repaint job?
@RaleighRonson, drive side pics please? Also, a close up of the rear derailleur?
The drive side dropout will prove to be most informative.
@RaleighRonson, drive side pics please? Also, a close up of the rear derailleur?
The drive side dropout will prove to be most informative.
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Well, it does say "Competition" on the top tube but I've never seen a copper one. My 73 or 74 (can't remember) also has painted, rather than chromed, stays. But it's plain old black. On a slightly tangential note, what does "colorway" mean as opposed to just "color?" I've seen it occasionally recently but I don't know the distinction or where the term came from.
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It's just a fashionable thing that dropped down long ago from the fashion industry and was picked up by the hoi polloi. Often it's used ironically or sarcastically, to make fun of hipsters and other people who might seem a little too precious in their raiment and their doings.
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● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
● 1971 Grandis SL ● 1972 Lambert Grand Prix frankenbike ● 1972 Raleigh Super Course fixie ● 1973 Nishiki Semi-Pro ● 1979 Motobecane Grand Jubile ●1980 Apollo "Legnano" ● 1984 Peugeot Vagabond ● 1985 Shogun Prairie Breaker ● 1986 Merckx Super Corsa ● 1987 Schwinn Tempo ● 1988 Schwinn Voyageur ● 1989 Bottechia Team ADR replica ● 1990 Cannondale ST600 ● 1993 Technium RT600 ● 1996 Kona Lava Dome ●
#13
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I see a 1977 model (by serial number). That was the year Raleigh re-did pretty much their whole line-up. Super Courses had a very similar fork crown and Sun Tour components, but had Bar-cons. Probably the easiest and surest way to tell would be seat post size. If 26.8, it would be the tubeset equivalent of a Super Course.
The copper color is not consistent with either the Competition nor the Super Course based on the catalog scans. That color is more associated with the International (which does not appear in the US catalog for 1977 or 1978).
The copper color is not consistent with either the Competition nor the Super Course based on the catalog scans. That color is more associated with the International (which does not appear in the US catalog for 1977 or 1978).
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#14
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The top tube cable guides are unusual. Raleigh used a lot of braze ons.
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I also just noticed that this lacks the "signature" arced rear brake cable stop.
* quietly reminds self that with Raleigh, all things are possible *
* quietly reminds self that with Raleigh, all things are possible *
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Pretty sure my old Raleigh Professional did not have tt brake cable guides. Not sure what year it was. Late 1970s -ish
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#18
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Wow, I thought I was the only one with a mystery Raleigh. Everything on my bike is mis-matched according to what I've seen on Sheldon Brown:
The decals are from the late 70's but it has suntour deralilleurs and cottered cranks. The bikes in the Raleigh catalogues have Huret derailleurs (except for the high end models) up until 1977. But no bikes shown have cottered cranks after 1976. Also there are no decals on the top tube that tell what model this bike is (International? Definitely not Grand Prix)
The hash marks on the headbadge indicate this bike was made at the Malaysian factory, not in England.
The decals are from the late 70's but it has suntour deralilleurs and cottered cranks. The bikes in the Raleigh catalogues have Huret derailleurs (except for the high end models) up until 1977. But no bikes shown have cottered cranks after 1976. Also there are no decals on the top tube that tell what model this bike is (International? Definitely not Grand Prix)
The hash marks on the headbadge indicate this bike was made at the Malaysian factory, not in England.
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@RaleighRonson,
Please note that the C&V forum is active, anxious, and wanting of more photos!
Don't leave us hanging!
Please note that the C&V forum is active, anxious, and wanting of more photos!
Don't leave us hanging!
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Hi everyone!
Wow thank you for all your great replies!
In the evening I will send you more picture of my raleigh.
I don't think it's a random mixture of different components just because there was a lazy framebuilder
To proof that, i've found such the same raleigh on ebay. - maybe it's interesting for all of you.
vintage altes Raleigh Carlton Rennrad 70er/80er Jahre braun 12-Gang | eBay
But I don't leave you guys hanging – the link is only to bridge the time until evening
Best regards
Wow thank you for all your great replies!
In the evening I will send you more picture of my raleigh.
I don't think it's a random mixture of different components just because there was a lazy framebuilder
To proof that, i've found such the same raleigh on ebay. - maybe it's interesting for all of you.
vintage altes Raleigh Carlton Rennrad 70er/80er Jahre braun 12-Gang | eBay
But I don't leave you guys hanging – the link is only to bridge the time until evening
Best regards
#21
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Yes, that Raleigh on ebay seems very similar. I'm intrigued by the crank, which appears to be a Raleigh-branded Sugino Mighty (or the like), something that I've never seen in the US. I suspect yours has the same. Raleigh-branded Sugino Maxy cranks appeared on some models, but that's not what you have.
@RaleighRonson, I think we'd like to see photos of your components (derailleurs, crank, brakes); 531 tubing decal on the seat tube; and frame details, such as head lugs, dropouts, etc. I'd also like to know the seat post size (27,2 mm?).
@RaleighRonson, I think we'd like to see photos of your components (derailleurs, crank, brakes); 531 tubing decal on the seat tube; and frame details, such as head lugs, dropouts, etc. I'd also like to know the seat post size (27,2 mm?).
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Wow, I thought I was the only one with a mystery Raleigh. Everything on my bike is mis-matched according to what I've seen on Sheldon Brown:
The decals are from the late 70's but it has suntour deralilleurs and cottered cranks. The bikes in the Raleigh catalogues have Huret derailleurs (except for the high end models) up until 1977. But no bikes shown have cottered cranks after 1976. Also there are no decals on the top tube that tell what model this bike is (International? Definitely not Grand Prix)
The hash marks on the headbadge indicate this bike was made at the Malaysian factory, not in England.
The decals are from the late 70's but it has suntour deralilleurs and cottered cranks. The bikes in the Raleigh catalogues have Huret derailleurs (except for the high end models) up until 1977. But no bikes shown have cottered cranks after 1976. Also there are no decals on the top tube that tell what model this bike is (International? Definitely not Grand Prix)
The hash marks on the headbadge indicate this bike was made at the Malaysian factory, not in England.
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#23
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Hmmm... your pics aren't showing up (just as invalid attachments for me).
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The mix-match of paint and components by Raleigh doesn't surprise me. I had one of the early Competitions that had a Gran Sport paint scheme in two shades of violet, but had the gold labeling like most Competitions and came with sew-ups. It also had a Stronglight/Huret drive train instead of the Campag Gran Sport that came on the later models. Was it just an early or transition model or possibly a prototype? It was purchased as a previous year model in Northern California. ********************
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